MATH 2053 Syllabus Spring 2014
Course Name: Finite Mathematics (MATH 2053)
Textbook: Finite Mathematics by Lial, Greenwell, and Ritchey
Software: MYLABSPLUS Student Access Kit
Other Requirements: Turning Technology Clicker
Course Coordinator: Brian Rickard, SCEN 222, [email protected]
Textbook and Software: Most homework, quizzes, and tests/exams are accessed with Pearson Math
Software MYLABSPLUS (MLP). An electronic version of the textbook is available within MLP. You may
purchase the University of Arkansas MLP access kit from a local bookstore or online when you access
the MLP portion of your class.
The software requires that some programs be installed on your computer. This software has been
installed in the General Access Computer Labs and on the computers on the second floor of the
Science and Engineering Building (SCEN). You are able to work on the course using any of these
computers. If you want to work on the course on any other computer you will need to install the
necessary programs. This can be done by clicking on the SUPPORT tab on the opening page of the
online course then clicking on MYMATHLAB BROWSER CHECK.
Accessing your MRTC MATH Course with Single Sign On:
 Generally, you will access your course through Blackboard (BB) by going to learn.uark.edu. Log in
using your university email login and password. There will be an option (a button or link) that will
directly sign you in to MLP and allow you to work on your homework, quizzes, or tests/exams.
 If there is ever a time when Blackboard is NOT working and you can access the course at
uark.bb.mylabsplus. Your login is your university email without the @uark.edu part. The first time
you do this, you will click on “forgot password” and the directions for resetting your MLP
password will be sent to your uark email. It is recommended that you set up this password at the
beginning of the semester.
The MLP software is installed in the General Access Computer Labs (GACL) and on the computers on
the second floor of the Science and Engineering Building (SCEN). Using other computers will require
you to install the necessary MLP programs by clicking on the SUPPORT tab on the opening page of the
online course then clicking on MYMATHLAB BROWSER CHECK.
Problems with Software: If you cannot access your MLP course consult the “What to do if you have
issues with MLP” document in Blackboard and under Course Documents in MLP. You can also call the
Pearson Helpline at 888-883-1299.
Communication: Check the MLP Announcement Page and your university email account twice a day
for important class information. Outages and other problems will also be reported via Twitter at
@UarkMRTC
Class Time and Lab Time: The course has two components: class setting with your instructor and
computer practice lab sessions in the specified computer lab in the SCEN building. The class meets for
50 minutes twice a week with your instructor in a traditional class setting. The lab sessions REQUIRE
you to work on the course (doing homework, quizzes, and reviews) for an average of 50 minutes each
week. There are 50 points possible for meeting the lab requirement. If you do not meet the lab
requirement, points will be prorated based upon the number of minutes completed. NOTE: You can
only acquire lab minutes in SCEN 209, 211, and 212. These labs will be clearly marked. Lab minutes
can be earned through the end of the day on April 21, 2014.
Your minutes for lab time will be monitored by a program called Minute keeper. You must login to
Minute Keeper by using your university ID and then you MUST logout when leaving the lab. If you fail
to either login or logout, you will NOT receive credit for those minutes in lab. It is your responsibility
to remember to login and logout. If you need to leave the lab room for any reason you must logout
and then login when you return. The lab supervisors will be monitoring the room when students
leave for short periods of time. Also, the use of cell phones and text messaging is not permitted in the
labs. If you need to use the phone, you MUST logout and leave the room to talk/text message on the
phone. You are only permitted to work on your Math 2053 course while in the labs. Failure to abide
by the rules may result in the loss of all lab minutes for that day.
We highly recommend that you keep track of your time in the labs throughout the semester. You can
also check your minutes by clicking View Report when logging out of a lab. Falsification of lab
minutes is considered academic dishonesty and will result in ZERO lab minute points for the
semester.
Course Entry Quiz: You must score 100% on this course entry quiz before you can work in MLP. If you
have questions about the quiz content, contact your instructor immediately.
Pre-Class Assignments: Prior to each class you will have a pre-class assignment composed of videos
and problems to prepare you for the class. There will be clicker quizzes at the beginning of each class
over these assignments.
Clicker Quizzes: Beginning the second week of class, there will be a clicker quiz at the beginning of
each class covering concepts from the pre-class assignments or from previous lessons.
Group Work: Most days there will be in-class group work that will graded by the clicker.
Homework: Before starting homework you must complete the Course Entry Quiz and the Mylabsplus
Orientation homework. Several homework assignments will require that you also complete a college
algebra review concerning topics related to the current homework. All homework assignments are
done on the computer. The computer grades the homework and posts your score immediately in the
Gradebook. If you believe an error was made in the grading, please notify your instructor as soon as
possible. You may work on each assignment to improve your grade until it is due by clicking on the
navigational tab HOMEWORK on the opening page of the course. It is clearly marked in the online
course. After the assignment is due the computer will not allow you access to the homework in order
to improve your score but you may review your homework at anytime without changing your grade
by clicking on the GRADEBOOK navigational tab. Homework will not be accepted late for credit. Each
homework problem will be limited to 10 attempts.
Special note about fractions versus decimals for answers:
If the answer is not an integer and the program does not indicate that it will accept a decimal then
the answer should be written as a fraction in reduced form. In general all answers should be integers
or fractions unless otherwise specified
Online Quizzes: There are ten graded online quizzes that you will take either outside of class time or
in the testing center using the MYLABSPLUS (MLP) software. You will have 3 attempts for each
outside of class quiz and the highest score is counted as your grade for the quiz. There are no makeups for missed online quizzes. At least one online quiz will be dropped. Some of these quizzes MUST
be taken in the Testing labs on the assigned dates using the MLP software. You will have only one
attempt on these quizzes. Each quiz requires a certain percentage on the homework for the test
before you can access it and must be completed by the date and time listed. The required percentage
will vary for each quiz. It is your responsibility to check the requirements for each quiz. It is your
responsibility to keep up with the due dates on the online course work.
Participation Points: The Turning technology clickers will be used for attendance, participation, group
work, and in-class quizzes. If you are absent, it is your responsibility to check the due dates for any
online course work that is due in addition to anything that your instructor may have assigned.
Falsification of attendance is considered academic dishonesty and will result in ZERO attendance
points for the semester.
Prerequisite for Each Test: Each test requires a score of at least 95% on the homework unit for the
test before you will be allowed to take the test. The program will not allow you access to the test
until you have a 95% on the Homework for the test.
MLP Gradebook: The MLP Gradebook can take up to 12 hours to update your scores. Therefore you
must have the required prerequisite homework completed at least 12 hours before you plan to take a
quiz or test/exam. Grades in the MLP Gradebook are approximations of your actual grade. Official
grades will be kept in the MLP Gradebook, NOT the Blackboard (BB) Gradebook.
Testing: There are four 100 point tests. You must score at least 95% on the homework for each test
in order to take the test. You will be allowed 75 minutes for each test. The test is designed to take 50
minutes but 10 minutes is added to compensate for the extra time needed for typing in your answers
and another 15 minutes is allowed for possible computer/internet problems. If the internet has a
problem during your test that is less than 15 minutes, you will not be given any additional time to
complete the test. If the problem lasts for more than 15 minutes, you will be instructed what to do.
The tests and final will be taken in the Testing Center, SCEN 203 on the scheduled dates. The
tentative testing dates are listed below and if changes are made you will be notified on the
homepage of the MLP course. The hours of operation for the Testing Center will be posted outside
the Testing Center. There are a limited number of computers in the testing center and they are
available as first come first served. You must show your university issued ID in order to take a test.
Final Exam: The final exam is May 8, 2014 and will be taken on the computer in the Testing Center.
You will have two hours (this includes the 15 minutes for internet problems noted under the Testing
heading) to complete the exam. You must show your university issued ID in order to take the exam.
Make-Up Tests: We loathe make-up tests. If you miss a test, please contact your instructor as soon as
possible. Most make-up tests will be given at the end of the semester in the Testing Lab (SCEN 203).
There will be no partial credit or pink sheets. In addition, the make-up test will be more difficult than
taking the regularly scheduled test.
Testing Groups
Group 1
Section 001
Section 002
Section 003
Section 004
Section 005
Section 006
Section 007
Section 008
Group 2
Section 009
Section 010
Section 011
Section 013
Section 014
Section 015
Section 016
Section 017
Test Schedule
Test #1
Test #2
Test #3
Test #4
Final Exam
Group 1
Group 2
February 4, 5
March 11, 12
April 7, 8
April 27, 28
May 8
February 5, 6
March 12, 13
April 8, 9
April 27, 29
May 8
Testing Lab Academic Policy: The use of cell phones, including text messaging, and any personal
media devices (including iPods, PDAs, personal calculators, etc.) in any of the testing labs is strictly
prohibited. Turn off all these devices BEFORE entering the Testing Lab and store them with your other
belongings. Do not take out or turn on these devices until you have left the Testing Lab. No
belongings, including purses or backpacks, may be brought to the testing machines. The only items
allowed at the testing machine are a pen/pencil, the official testing lab calculator, the official
testing lab scratch paper and your student ID. There is space allotted for such materials on the
shelves in the Testing Lab or in the lockers outside of SCEN 203. A violation of this policy could result
in a non-replaceable zero on the quiz/test/exam being taken. In addition, the student might be
required to report to the Office of Community Standards and Student Ethics (OCSSE).
CALCULATOR POLICY: For the tests on the computer you will be allowed to use your own TI-83/84
calculator. Ti-Nspire non CAS version is also acceptable. Any other calculators need to be approved
by your instructor. The testing center has many TI-84 calculators should you need to borrow one. We
do not guarantee availability of these. You should be familiar working with these calculators as the
proctors cannot answer any questions about the operation of the calculators during a test. It is
strongly recommended that you use a TI-83 or a TI-84 when doing your online homework and
quizzes.
Determination of grades:
Four tests = 40% of the final grade
Final exam = 20% of the final grade
Preclass, homework, quizzes, labs, and participation = 40% of the final grade
Pre-class Assignment
Homework
Quizzes
Participation
Lab Minutes
Attendance
Group Work
Clicker Quizzes
Tests (4 @ 100pts)
Final
Total
60
80
80
50
30
60
40
400
200__
1000
Grading Scale: The final letter grade is based on the following percentage scale:
A = 90.0%-100%; B = 80.0%-89.99%; C = 70.0%-79.99%; D = 60.0%-69.99%; F = 0-59.99%
Academic Honesty Policy: As a core part of its mission, the University of Arkansas provides students
with the opportunity to further their educational goals through programs of study and research in an
environment that promotes freedom of inquiry and academic responsibility. Accomplishing this
mission is only possible when intellectual honesty and individual integrity prevail. Each University of
Arkansas student is required to be familiar with and abide by the University's Academic Integrity
Policy which may be found at http://honesty.uark.edu/. Students with questions about how these
policies apply to a particular course or assignment should immediately contact their instructor.
Accommodations: Under University Policy and federal and state law, students with documented
disabilities are entitled to reasonable accommodations to ensure the student has an equal
opportunity to perform in class. If any member of the class has such a disability and needs special
academic accommodations, you can request services from the Center for Educational Access (CEA) at
http://cea.uark.edu. Reasonable accommodations may be arranged after CEA has verified your
disability. Do not hesitate to contact your teacher or the course coordinator if any assistance is need
in this process.
Inclement Weather: Instructors make every effort to hold class. If you feel that travel is too
hazardous due to weather conditions, inform your instructor by email. If the university is officially
closed, class is canceled. Your instructor will notify you of schedule changes for the study and testing
labs in SCEN by email, announcements in MLP/BB, and via Twitter at @UarkMRTC
Emergency Procedures: Many types of emergencies can occur on campus. Instructions for specific
emergencies such as severe weather, active shooter, or fire can be found at emergency.uark.edu.
Severe Weather (Tornado Warning):
 Follow the directions of the instructor or emergency personnel
 Seek shelter in the basement or interior room or hallway on the lowest floor, putting as many
walls as possible between you and the outside
 If you are in a multi-story building, and you cannot get to the lowest floor, pick a hallway in
the center of the building
 Stay in the center of the room, away from exterior walls, windows, and doors
Violence / Active Shooter (CADD):
 CALL- 9-1-1
 AVOID- If possible, self-evacuate to a safe area outside the building. Follow directions of police
officers.
 DENY- Barricade the door with desk, chairs, bookcases or any items. Move to a place inside
the room where you are not visible. Turn off the lights and remain quiet. Remain there until
told by police it’s safe.
 DEFEND- Use chairs, desks, cell phones or whatever is immediately available to distract and/or
defend yourself and others from attack.
Note: We reserve the right to make changes to the syllabus. You will be notified of changes in class,
on the MLP/BB Announcement pages, and/or via university email.